FORT ABERCROMBIE, D. T.
Stables
1861 REGULATIONS
377...Stable-call will be sounded immediately after reveille, forty minutes before noon; and again, immediately after retreat, for watering, feeding, and attending to the horses.
697…Officer's led saddle horses, and the horses of the dismounted men of the cavalry, will follow the respective regiments of the owners. Pack-horses, and others will be with the wagons, under the orders of the conductors of the baggage train. They ought not to be permitted to accompany the columns; and mounted officers will, when the roads are dusty, as far as practicable, keep to the leeward of the column.
712…The wagons and pack-horses of these trains, together with officers' spare or led horses, and horses and carriages belonging to the corps, or to the United States, constitute the baggage train of an army. None other will be allowed to enter or to march with it, without special permission from general head-quarters.
745…When horses are to be transported, they should not be put on board immediately after severe exercise, or until they have been refreshed; and, if heated, cooled and well groomed especially in hot weather. Much pains should be taken so to secure them by slings, or other means, as best to insure their safety on ship-board; especial attention being given to ventilation. The greatest care will be observed in their inspection, in cleansing of stalls, and feed, which should be moderate, particularly with short forage. Extra vinegar will be placed on board the horse transports, with which to wash the mangers occasionally, and the faces and nostrils of the horses frequently.
OVERVIEW
Cavalry were periodically stationed at Fort Abercrombie and averaged approximately 60 soldiers and horses per company. Each company had a designated color for its horses, which were: A and K, black; B, F, and H, sorrel; C, D, E and I, bay; and G, iron gray. The uniform color of the horses enabled individual companies to be identified from a distance and new remounts (replacements) to be accepted more quickly by the other horses.
A
company officer selected the cavalry horses from the open livestock market and
they were paid for by the Quartermaster Department. If no horses were available
locally, the company officer and a noncommissioned officer would be assigned to
Remount Duty and would travel to the nearest city to select the specified number
of horses. During the 1860s the Quartermaster Department at Fort Abercrombie
paid between $50.00 and $60.00 apiece for "warranted sound horses." Potential
cavalry horses were inspected before they were selected and they were required
to be sound (not lame), free from injuries, trained to ride, able to
travel at all gaits (walk, trot, canter, and gallop) and have a good
disposition. The most desirable horses were between five and nine years of age
and from 15 to 16 hands (60-64 inches) high. The cavalry used all kinds
of riding horses which were from many different breeds. Horses with mixed
breeding were normally cheaper, but the officers often purchased purebred horses
with their own money for their personal use.
Once in the stables, each animal was assigned his stall by platoon. When the practice began is not known, but in later times at least the names of the animals and their riders were placed over the stalls. Horses were tied to their stalls by lengths of rope that permitted the animals to lie down and get up with ease. These ropes were slightly less than the height above ground of the tie rung of the manger.
The
stables were not intended to keep the horses warm but to protect them from draft
and inclement weather. Although no horse was allowed to be exposed to a draft,
especially when sweating, ventilation was important; and the windows were closed
only in severe weather and then only on the windward side. Doors were left open
whenever the stable was empty.
All the floors had to be kept clean and were scrubbed with stable brooms and allowed to dry before fresh bedding was laid down. Bedding protected the horses from injury and by the animal lying down helped his legs to last longer. The preferred bedding was straw, free from mold or weeds. Sawdust from seasoned wood, shavings, and (in warm climates) peat moss also were also used. Once the horses were out of the stables, the bedding was shaken and sorted. Reusable bedding was aired on racks outside. In bad weather, the sorted straw was spread down the aisle or under the kicking bars, near the rear of the stalls. In the evening the dried bedding, mixed with fresh, was laid down with the thickest part away from the manger, so the horses would not eat it. The monthly allowance of hay was 100 pounds, which had to be conserved as much as possible. Inspectors who found a manure pile filled with good hay knew the officers had not been supervising the men properly.
Earthen floors, such as Fort Abercrombie had, were difficult to keep clean. To protect the horses' legs, wet depressions were filled with clay bound with ashes or crushed rock, well tamped. The dirt floor at the front of the stall for about two feet from the edge of the manger was leveled for the animals' front feet to rest on. Back of this, the floor declined to provide drainage. When floors had frozen water on them, they were sprinkled with sand or sifted ashes, before the bedding was put down. The same application was made in the aisles to prevent slipping.
Hay racks and feed boxes were brushed out daily and cleaned at least once a month. In the 20th Century, a solution of three tablespoons of lye in a bucket of warm water was used. The woodwork of the stable could be painted or unpainted; whitewash was not used. The latter when applied to mangers caused irritation to the eyes and when used elsewhere often rubbed off on the horses. All the woodwork in the stable had to be washed and kept clean.
Stables were provided with buckets, barrels of water, and knives for cutting halter-tied ropes in case of fire. When the weather was zero or below, two and one-half pounds of salt could be added per gallon to water to prevent the fire barrels from freezing. Smoking in the stables was forbidden.
The stable sergeants were responsible for the efficient care of the animals in the stables or picket lines on a march and all the attendant public property. They supervised the enlisted men on duty at the stables, had the safekeeping of the animals when they were not in use, took charge of the watering and feeding, cared for sick animals, received and issued the forage and bedding, were responsible foe the police and minor repairs on the stables, and cared for the tools. Generally, the farrier*, a stable orderly, and the men on duty assisted them.
All stables had rooms in which hay and grain were stored. To prevent theft, the doors were locked securely and where possible, iron gratings were placed over the windows. Either an officer or the stable Sergeant had to be present when troopers enter these rooms. Ventilation of the storerooms was of prime importance to prevent dampness. To permit adequate air circulation, the forage was piled on duckboards away from the walls, and spaces were left between the walls and ceilings to allow on airflow. When rodents got into a storeroom, traps were set but poisons were not permitted.
The endless care of Cavalry horses knew neither time nor climate: stable duty had to be performed daily. Drill was endless;
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
The tools used in the stables would include the following:
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FEED
The Cavalry's routine began at daybreak, when reveille sounded. Fifteen minutes later the stable call was blown, which was repeated 40 minutes before noon and immediately after retreat. The principles for feeding and watering the animals were well established. At reveille about an hour to an hour and a half before drill, the horses were fed a small amount of grain. All the animals were fed the same amount because of the difficulty in measuring individual amounts in the semidarkness and the general hurry before breakfast. After they had eaten, the horses were led out, and during stables, the feed boxes and hayracks were thoroughly cleaned and fresh hay placed in the latter. After morning stable call, the horses were watered and tied to their stalls to give them a chance to munch in the hay. The horses were fed in small quantities and often, because the stomach of the animal was small. Usually hay was fed before the corn or grain to cause the animal to eat more slowly. When hay was not available, chaff or chop was mixed with the grain. Horses were never worked hard immediately after a full feed, although during a march, continuing on was not considered harmful.
The horses were watered before they were fed to prevent loss of nourishment or colic. The only exception to this rule being in the morning. Horses could be watered other times also but usually did not require as much. At noon the animals were watered and about four pounds of oats given them. Unless it was extremely hot or inclement, the horses were then tied outside. In the evening they were watered, given the remainder of the hay and then about five pounds of oats or corn. If a horse bolted his feed, a few large stones could be place in the manger to prevent his taking large mouthfuls.
The forage ration for horses was fixed at 14 pounds hay or fodder and 12 pounds of oats, corn or barley, but this could not always be met at distant and remote outposts.
Almost immediately after the Cavalry arrived at Fort Abercrombie, bids were asked for 1200 bushels of oats for the Cavalry horses. Hay usually was bid in quantities of 250 tons. Prices for the hay varied. A ton consisted of 2000 pounds, and the Quartermaster reserved the right to increase or diminish the quantity by one-third after entering into the contract.
A bushel contained 2150 cubic inches and an Army wagon, when full, held about 49 bushels. A bushel of corn on the cob was rations for one day for five horses. Shelled corn fed four. Ear corn was the feed used whenever available at garrisons. It was preferred to shelled corn, because it quickly could be determined whether it was good or not. Only an expert could tell whether some of the shelled corn was musty. Horses also ate their ear corn more slowly, taking time to bite it and digest it. Troopers felt there was no equal to the ear corn and prairie hay for feeding their horses. The corn and oats was stored in the granary.
As important as a horse's feed was his water. Each animal consumed about eight gallons a day. At Fort Abercrombie, the horses probably were watered at the river: no evidence of watering troughs has been uncovered. An easy method of making a trough during this period was to hollow a tree trunk, all evidence of which probably would have disappeared after the abandonment of the fort. In the Twentieth Century, watering troughs were built from boards and were high enough to prevent pawing over the rim. Each trough held about eight-to-ten-inch depths of water and was broad enough to allow at least a yard of width for each animal while drinking. The horses were led to the trough and allowed to have their fill, before others were brought up. Watering troughs had to be cleaned, and sick animals were watered separately from buckets.
GROOMING
- Using the hoofpick to remove the impacted straw and manure from the horse's hoofs.
- Using the currycomb to raise the dirt from the horse's hair and skin.
- Brushing the horse's coat to remove the dirt, mud and loose hair.
- Using the grooming cloth to polish the horse's coat and wipe its eyes, nostrils and muzzle.
- If the horse was wet, a whisp made of straw or hay was used as a sponge to dry its coat.
- Using the mane comb to remove straw, hay or burrs from the horse's tail and mane.
The currycomb removed caked mud and loosened matted dirt in the hair; but care had to be taken not to scratch or irritate the skin of the horse.
The hoof pick, which sometimes was attached to the back of the currycomb, was used to clean the feet. Farriers' could make hooks by straightening a horseshoe and sharpening and rounding an end, which then was bent one-quarter inch from the tip. The opposite end was made into a ring for a handle. Cleaning out the hoof prevented thrush and canker and provided healthy growth. When the hoof was washed, and oil dressing was applied to aid the horn in drying to retain some moisture and to prevent it from becoming harder that originally.
The horse brush removed scurf, dirt, and dust; it stimulated the skin, improve the coat and massaged the muscles. Grooming cloths were made from old toweling or condemned blankets. They were about two feet square and were used to wipe the eyes, nostrils and lips, rub the head, ears, and muzzle, remove dust and sweat from the elbows, under the flank, and between the hind quarters, polish the coat, and clean the dock and outside parts of the sheath.
Whisps were easily made from a handful of hay or straw and as easily discarded. Approximately one foot long and two to three inches thick, they were used to dry the horses and to loosen and remove caked mud from the legs and heads. When a whisp was made to massage the horse or improve the appearance of the coat, it was usually about ten feet long.
The grooming equipment had to be cleaned occasionally to prevent the spread of disease. This could be done by washing pieces in a strong soda solution, dipping the brushes in a strong solution of salt to stiffen the bristles, and soaking some items in a disinfectant.
Too much currying, especially in the winter, could be harmful, and officers, who insisted upon applying the rules without regard to circumstances, often injured the animals. Too vigorous use of the currycomb and brush could leave the pores open, the skin scratched, and an animal suffering in the cold all night.
TACK
The Saddle or Tack rooms were the responsibility of the stable sergeant and here all the saddles and riding equipment were kept when not in use. Each trooper had his own peg on which he placed his saddle, with the sweat-damp blanket on top to dry, the bridle hanging from the pommel, and the other equipment laying on top of the saddle and blanket.
Equipment probably was cleaned, oiled and polished in the tack room, necessitating tables or sawhorses on which to spread and suspend the items being cleaned. Soap, linseed oil, turpentine, rags, etc. probably were kept here in cabinets or on shelves.
SHOEING THE HORSES
The successful maintenance and operation of any military horse unit required the services of a competent farrier and saddler. A farrier was a blacksmith that specialized in shoeing horses and was assigned to each company of Cavalry. The saddler was a leather smith that repaired the tack (saddles, bridles, halters, etc.) and various types of harness which became damaged through normal use. At small military installations, like Fort Abercrombie, the Post Saddler was normally assigned to the Quartermaster Department because the volume of repairs was not sufficient to justify having a saddler assigned to each company.
The proper shoeing of the horses was essential in keeping the animals healthy and available for whatever duty was required. The farrier made or prepared an individual set of four horseshoes for each animal. Different sizes of mass produced horseshoes were purchased by the Quartermaster Department and shipped to Fort Abercrombie. Contrary to popular belief, the farrier did not completely produce every horseshoe. The farrier selected the most compatible size and prepared (adjusted) the shoes to fit the horse's hoofs. If commercially produced horse shoes were not available or corrective shoeing was necessary, an experienced farrier could make the entire shoe from a single piece of iron. Each horse was different and the growth of its hoof determined how often the horseshoes had to be removed and reset. The horseshoes were normally reset once every five to six weeks. When the horseshoes were worn out they were often made into hookpicks, hooks, or other useful items. If a horse was improperly shod, it became lame or permanently crippled.
Before the Cavalry participated in an expedition, campaign or long march, the Company Farrier supplied each soldier with an extra horseshoe and nails. These were carried by the Cavalryman in his right saddle bag, for emergency use in the field, if his horse lost a shoe. On large or long expeditions a traveling forge (portable blacksmith shop) was transported in a specially constructed wagon which was part of the Regimental Quartermaster Department.
HEALTH OF THE HORSE
During the 1860s, the treatment of sick horses was limited to the practical experience of the cavalrys because the Veterinary Department was not established until early in the 20th century. If a horse contracted a contagious disease such as farcy or glanders, it was isolated from the other horses and if the disease could not be cured, the animal was destroyed. The following list identifies the prevalent diseases, ailments and treatments of the cavalry horses.
- Glanders: swelling of glands below the lower jaw and nasal membranes. Contagious - could be transmitted to man (similar to mumps). Treatment - Isolation: ingestion of Oil of Spike, Blue-stone or Glauber Salts, and rest.
- Farcy: acute form of glanders. Contagious. Treatment - No known cure. Horse was destroyed immediately.
- Founder: swelling of membranes in hoof. Treatment - Application of cold water and rest.
- Colic: abdominal pains/stomach ache. Treatment - Horse was walked and then allowed to rest.
- Thrush: infection of the sole and frog of the hoof. Treatment - Sole of the hoof was packed with a mixture of oakum and tar.
- Colds, Catarrh, Distemper: swelling of mucous membranes in respiratory passages. Treatment - A tablespoon of tar was placed on the back of the horse's tongue, and rest.
- Saddle sores: (galled) - open sores on a horse's back which are caused by an improperly adjusted saddle. Treatment - Application of castile soap or Oil of Spike and rest.
- Sprains: twisted ligaments or muscles. Treatment - Application of liniments (Lindseys or Nerve and Bone) and rest.
- Spavins: bone deposit on the hock.
- Lame: general description of a horse with an injured leg or hoof. Treatment - Application of liniments or cold water as necessary and rest.
- Open wounds: cuts or punctures of the skin. Treatment - Tar was applied over or around wounds to repel flies.
No contagious disease was feared more than glanders. Farcy, which often accompanied glanders, was equally devastating. Horses which showed the slightest symptoms of either were quickly isolated to protect the healthy animals. No treatment could be relied on to cure farcy; and since it was as contagious as glanders, every farcied horse had to be destroyed as soon as possible. Oil of Spike, Blue-stone (blue vitriol) and Glauber salts, remedies for glanders, are identified in the returns for Fort Abercrombie as having been expended for diseased animals, suggesting there may have been an outbreak among the horses.
Tar had a number of uses. A tablespoon of tar was placed on the back of a horse's tongue to prevent colds, catarrh, and distemper. It also was used when horses were transferred from the stables to the fields. Tar was applied over or around wounds to repel flies and could be used with oakum as a hoof pack.
Sore backs usually occurred when the blanket was not properly folded under the saddle or from careless riding. For saddling and packing a horse there were specific instructions in the manual. On marches, a trooper made every effort to see his saddle blanket was dry when put next to the horse, since a wet blanket and resultant sore back could mean days of walking beside a mount. Officers were cautioned to observe the riding habits of their men, so that weight was distributed evenly. Oil of Spike and Castile soap were mentioned as specific remedies at Fort Abercrombie for galled horses. Sprains and spavins were treated with two kinds of liniments, "Lindseys" and one identified only as "Nerve and Bone."
James V. Acker, Pres.
